Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck Accidents in California

While any motor vehicle accident can have serious, long-lasting effects, collisions involving large semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers tend to be especially devastating. All too often, victims sustain severe, catastrophic injuries or die as a result of these accidents. If you or your loved one was involved in an accident with a large truck or commercial vehicle, it’s important that you reach out to an experienced attorney who can help you understand what to do next and work to protect your rights.

For more than 23 years, Bral & Associates has been fighting tirelessly on behalf of victims of serious truck accidents in Los Angeles County and throughout Southern California. We understand the immense impact these accidents have on victims and their loved ones—and we know how to fight for the justice you deserve. Our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers have successfully handled over 5,000 personal injury cases and have secured more than $10 million for injured individuals and the families of those wrongfully killed. Get in touch with us today to learn how we can help you move forward.

Contact us online or call our office at (855) 951-2215 24/7 for a free consultation.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

A variety of factors may contribute to a given truck accident. Generally speaking, the main commonality in most truck accidents is negligence. When truck drivers, trucking companies, or even parts manufacturers are negligent, it can set in motion a chain of events that leads to a serious accident.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

• Truck Driver Error: Like any other motorist, truck drivers are human and are, therefore, prone to making mistakes or acting negligently. Distracted driving, texting while driving, improper lane changes, speeding, drunk driving, and other traffic law violations are all examples of negligent truck driver behavior—and all can lead to collisions.
• Hours-of-Service Violations: Federal laws regulate how many hours, consecutive and non-consecutive, truck drivers can drive, as well as how often they should take breaks and for how long. Often, these rules are ignored as truck drivers are pressured to meet strict deadlines. This can lead to fatigued driving, which studies have proven to be just as dangerous as drunk driving.
• Improperly Loaded Cargo: When cargo is not properly distributed or when trucks are overloaded, it can make the truck more difficult to control. Improperly loaded and overloaded cargo are some of the most common causes of jackknife truck accidents, in which the back end of the trailer swings around to meet the cab.
• Poor Truck Maintenance: In many cases, truck maintenance falls to the driver of the vehicle; in other cases, another party is responsible for making sure trucks are well-maintained. In any case, when proper truck maintenance is not performed, or when reported issues are not repaired, accidents can—and do—happen.

Liability in Truck Accident Cases

One thing that makes truck accident claims so much more complicated than other types of motor vehicle accident cases is the issue of liability. As in other accident cases, determining who was at fault for a truck accident is important—but fault does not necessarily equate to liability in these cases.

For example, a truck driver may be at fault for causing an accident if he or she fell asleep at the wheel due to driving fatigued. But his or her employer, the trucking company, could be held liable if it is found that it encouraged drivers to drive beyond the permitted number of hours or if it punished drivers for failing to meet unrealistic timelines.

In California, respondeat superior laws state that employers are generally liable for the conduct of their employees; in most cases, this means the victim of a truck accident can take action against the trucking company and pursue an injury claim against its insurance provider. However, in some cases, liability may rest with a truck manufacturer, the truck driver alone, or even another third party, such as another driver.

Our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers can investigate your case to determine what happened, who was at fault, and who is liable for your damages. We often work with accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and other professionals who can help us build a comprehensive case aimed at maximizing your recovery.

Call Us Today for a Free Consultation

We understand that you or your loved one could be dealing with serious, life-altering injuries in the wake of a truck accident. Your focus should be on getting proper medical care and ongoing treatment not on how you are going to pay for that care. We are prepared to handle all of the details of your claim, advocating tirelessly for you every step of the way.

When you choose to work with Bral & Associates, you get a team of dedicated legal professionals ready to fight for you. We prioritize client service and always remain accessible and attentive to our clients’ needs. We genuinely care about you and your recovery and will do everything in our power to secure the compensation you need to move forward with your life.

Call our office today at (855) 951-2215 or submit a free online case evaluation form to get started.